NetSuite for Retail is a cloud-based multi-channel retail management solution for retailers that combines e-commerce, POS, and order management functionalities. The software provides a unified retail system with back office management...
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NetSuite for Retail is a cloud-based multi-channel retail management solution for retailers that combines e-commerce, POS, and order management functionalities. The software provides a unified retail system with back office management...
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Epos Now is a retail management system for small to mid-sized businesses. In addition to its Point of Sale module, the solution also offers integrated Inventory Management, Customer Management, and Retail Accounting, including general...
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Epos Now is a retail management system for small to mid-sized businesses. In addition to its Point of Sale module, the solution also offers integrated Inventory Management, Customer Management, and Retail Accounting, including general...
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Revel is a cloud-based business platform that integrates operations and customer channels with point-of-sale (POS) functionality in a single dashboard. It is suitable for stores and restaurants of all sizes and provides users with...
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Revel is a cloud-based business platform that integrates operations and customer channels with point-of-sale (POS) functionality in a single dashboard. It is suitable for stores and restaurants of all sizes and provides users with...
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Pacific Amber’s AmberPOS offers a point of sale software solutions to a variety of retail specialties, ranging from small to midsized, in the United States and Canada.
In addition to point of sale functionality, AmberPOS includes...
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Pacific Amber’s AmberPOS offers a point of sale software solutions to a variety of retail specialties, ranging from small to midsized, in the United States and Canada.
In addition to point of sale functionality, AmberPOS includes...
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COMCASH ERP is a complete retail management system ideally suited for multi-channel and multi-location retailers. The software is cloud-based, allowing access to the administrative functions from anywhere on any device.
The Point...
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COMCASH ERP is a complete retail management system ideally suited for multi-channel and multi-location retailers. The software is cloud-based, allowing access to the administrative functions from anywhere on any device.
The Point...
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Agiliron cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) solution is designed to serve both in-store and mobile businesses as well as online sales channels. The system offers a host of features that work in tandem with the point-of-sale solution,...
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Agiliron cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) solution is designed to serve both in-store and mobile businesses as well as online sales channels. The system offers a host of features that work in tandem with the point-of-sale solution,...
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ERPLY is a cloud-based retail solution built for small and midsize businesses. Key features include point of sale (POS), customer database and inventory management. The solution can run independent from web access and data is auto-synced...
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ERPLY is a cloud-based retail solution built for small and midsize businesses. Key features include point of sale (POS), customer database and inventory management. The solution can run independent from web access and data is auto-synced...
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Bepoz is a Software as a Service (SaaS)-based point-of-sale (POS) suite built for restaurant, retail and admissions businesses of any size. The program has multiple platform options and allows users to operate if network connections...
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Bepoz is a Software as a Service (SaaS)-based point-of-sale (POS) suite built for restaurant, retail and admissions businesses of any size. The program has multiple platform options and allows users to operate if network connections...
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iVend Retail is an end-to-end omnichannel retail management solution that covers everything from point-of-sale (POS) to back office to head office operations. Setup can range from a single outlet to a multi-geography store environment,...
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iVend Retail is an end-to-end omnichannel retail management solution that covers everything from point-of-sale (POS) to back office to head office operations. Setup can range from a single outlet to a multi-geography store environment,...
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RetailPoint Point of Sale is a cloud-based retail management system that helps users manage the daily operations of a single store or multiple locations in real time. In addition to the standard platform, it can also be accessed on...
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RetailPoint Point of Sale is a cloud-based retail management system that helps users manage the daily operations of a single store or multiple locations in real time. In addition to the standard platform, it can also be accessed on...
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Clover is an integrated point-of-sale system with custom hardware designed for several types of retailers. The program is available in both web-based and server-based deployment versions and offers a mobile POS option in addition to...
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Clover is an integrated point-of-sale system with custom hardware designed for several types of retailers. The program is available in both web-based and server-based deployment versions and offers a mobile POS option in addition to...
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S2K Enterprise Management Software by VAI is a fully integrated ERP system designed to manage mid-sized and enterprise businesses in the wholesale distribution, manufacturing and speciality retail industries, across many vertical markets...
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S2K Enterprise Management Software by VAI is a fully integrated ERP system designed to manage mid-sized and enterprise businesses in the wholesale distribution, manufacturing and speciality retail industries, across many vertical markets...
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Acumen is a software solution designed for small, medium, and growing retailers. The integrated solution includes applications for point of Sale, stock management, customer management, ecommerce, and accounting.
Acumen provides a...
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Acumen is a software solution designed for small, medium, and growing retailers. The integrated solution includes applications for point of Sale, stock management, customer management, ecommerce, and accounting.
Acumen provides a...
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Retail Express delivers Retail operating software, providing growing retailers with the opportunity to have more centralized oversight of their operations.
This cloud-based platform offers point of sale, inventory management, customer...
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Retail Express delivers Retail operating software, providing growing retailers with the opportunity to have more centralized oversight of their operations.
This cloud-based platform offers point of sale, inventory management, customer...
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RockSolid MAX is a cloud-based point of sale solution for small to midsize hardware and lumber businesses. RockSolid MAX helps users manage point of sale, inventory management, purchasing and receiving, electronic data interchange,...
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RockSolid MAX is a cloud-based point of sale solution for small to midsize hardware and lumber businesses. RockSolid MAX helps users manage point of sale, inventory management, purchasing and receiving, electronic data interchange,...
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Pulse Commerce is a cloud-based point of sale (POS) system for small to midsize retailers, including jewelry stores, pharmacies and apparel. Pulse Commerce offers integrated POS, inventory management, customer management (with complete...
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Pulse Commerce is a cloud-based point of sale (POS) system for small to midsize retailers, including jewelry stores, pharmacies and apparel. Pulse Commerce offers integrated POS, inventory management, customer management (with complete...
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Spruce software is based in Microsoft Windows and designed around a document management solution. Spruce provides information from point of sale to the integrated general ledger. With drill-down capability throughout the solution,...
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Spruce software is based in Microsoft Windows and designed around a document management solution. Spruce provides information from point of sale to the integrated general ledger. With drill-down capability throughout the solution,...
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Related Software Guides

Buyer's Guide

Hardware stores specialize in the retail of household goods and materials, including:

Tools

Lawn and garden equipment

Plumbing and electrical

Cleaning supplies

Specialty hardware stores may also sell items such as farm or ranch equipment and even hunting supplies.

POS software for hardware and building materials stores helps business owners automate nearly every aspect of their business, from managing inventory to customer checkout and balancing the books.

These systems offer increased visibility into business operations, allowing owners to track trends and relationships that impact profitability. As such, these systems play an integral role in the success of retail stores of all size, from mom-and-pop hardware shops to enterprise-level home improvement retail chains.

With the emergence of new digital technologies such as iPads, credit card processors and electronic barcoding solutions it’s easier than ever for hardware and building materials stores to maintain accurate shop records.

We’ve created this guide to help business owners evaluate and compare the various solutions on the market and make a more informed purchase decision.

There are some peculiarities for the customer relationship management (CRM) and POS. These are primarily in the areas of job costing and estimating. They affect both contractors and do-it-yourselfers.

Common Features and Capabilities of Hardware POS Software

When evaluating POS software, hardware store owners should keep the following functions in mind to ensure the new system meets their unique business and industry requirements.

Common Hardware POS Features

Integrated parts database and UPC catalog

Because of the large number of hardware items, the system needs to provide a catalog of products and UPCs. The catalog must be updated frequently or better yet, available online.

Sell by measure

Hardware stores sell many bulk items that are sold in cut portions. Examples include lumber, chain, rope and wire. The system should handle selling by measure for these items. The inventory should be accurately tracked, including accounting for all scrap.

Shelf and bin location

The inventory and POS systems should support locating products by shelf and bin location. In addition to providing better customer support, having inventory location assists with the physical inventory process.

Estimating

The POS and inventory system should allow estimates to be prepared. If the customer accepts the estimate, the system should be able to generate a customer order easily. It should generate orders for stock not on hand and special orders as necessary.

Contractor sales

The system should support contractor sales. It should calculate discounts, track terms and provide billing. It should also track lines of credit and notify the customer and back office staff when credit thresholds are reached.

Job costing

The system should be able to track multiple jobs, for both contractors and do-it-yourselfers. The job costing should be part of the POS. A single transaction should be able to be split over multiple jobs. The job should include the customer’s job number. Each customer should be able to have multiple jobs concurrently.

Seasonal orders

The system should recommend or order seasonal merchandise; for example, salt and holiday decorations for the winter and barbecue grills in the summer. The system should also support inventory sell-versus-store decisions at the end of each season.

Kit sales

Hardware stores often sell plans and materials as single kits; for example, to build a storage shed or a play set. The system should correctly decrease the individual parts inventory counts when a kit is sold.

Special orders

The system should handle special orders. It should track deposits, integrate with order entry to place orders and notify the customer when the order is received.

Work orders

Many hardware stores offer special services. Examples include rescreening and engraving. The system needs to track the work orders, post deposits and notify the customer when the work is complete.

Material safety data sheet (MSDS) handling

OSHA requires that the required MSDS for a product to be delivered by the seller, but only for certain customers. The systems should have a repository of MSDS The POS and CRM systems should printout required data sheets at the time of sale.

Common Hardware POS Capabilities

Gift registry

For a variety of reasons, hardware stores are starting to maintain gift registries. Customers should be able to register for desired merchandise by name and event. The system should track which items have been purchased and what is still on the list.

Rental management

The system should have a rental management module. It should track costs, billing, maintenance and equipment lifecycle management.

Lookup by description

Since many hardware items are similar, the POS needs a look up by description, which can narrow the range of items. The the clerk or customer then can select from a limited list.

Inventory images

The system must show pictures of the items. The images should be available during ordering, receiving, selling and physical inventory.

Case/unit breakdown

Many hardware parts are ordered in cases and sold in as cases, boxes or singles. The POS system should decrease the inventory properly how ever the items are sold.

Physical inventory system

The system should support physical inventory. It should interface with handheld devices to record the count. It should create physical inventory sheets by location as well as item number. The count sheets should have the option to display the image.

Expected Benefits of Using Hardware POS Software

Investing in POS software can benefit your business in several ways, including:

Improved workflows: Prior to POS software, sales associates had to physically check the stockroom and sales floor to answer customer inquiries about pricing or inventory levels. Now, associates can respond to questions about product levels, cost and more simply by checking their POS dashboard. This not only creates a smoother customer experience, but employees can special order a part for a customer or check inventory levels at other store locations on the spot.

Better employee management: Using your POS for scheduling can help ensure proper staffing levels so employees are neither over or under worked. Use historical staffing data to anticipate increased staffing needs around holidays to ensure you have enough people scheduled to work at that time.

Enhanced customer service: Create a customer database to provide a more personalized shopping experience. Sales associates can use purchase history to help with current sales. For example, if the customer is looking for a lawn mower part, the associate can look up what model lawn mower they bought to help locate the part more easily.

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